5 underused backs set to explode

5 underused running backs ready to shoulder the load

As the role of the NFL running back changes, so too has the average ball carrier’s workload. But teams like the Seahawks and 49ers show that the workhorse back is not extinct.

Here are five running backs who are ready for more substantial roles in 2014:

Andre Ellington, Cardinals

Bruce Arians’ refusal to promote Ellington over Rashard Mendenhall last season was a baffling decision. The sixth-round pick averaged 5.5 yards per carry compared to Mendenhall’s paltry 3.2.

More importantly, Ellington’s shiftiness gave the Cardinals a dynamic threat in the running game that they had long lacked. Check out the move Ellington put on then-Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis:

(Via AZCardinals.com)

Ellington’s offseason bulking up by 10 pounds is more concerning than it is comforting – a similar move only made Ravens running back Ray Rice less elusive in 2013. But if he can prove to be reliable in the passing game, Ellington should be a fixture of the Cardinals’ offense. Arians won’t run him roughshod, but a doubling of last season’s 118 carries is within reach.

(Phil Sears, USA TODAY Sports)

Toby Gerhart, Jaguars

Gerhart’s resume as Adrian Peterson’s backup for four years in Minnesota might not reflect that of a workhorse back, but he’s built for the role. He logged 343 carries in his final year at Stanford and proved to be a reliable battering ram while spotting Peterson.

The Jaguars will need Gerhart to wear defenses down for Chad Henne or Blake Bortles. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch told The Florida Times-Union he doesn’t expect one back to get 20 carries per game. But even an average of 15 likely would put Gerhart just outside the top 10 most used backs next season.

(Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

Ben Tate, Browns

Tate must hold off rookie Terrance West to truly earn his place on the list. But the 25-year-old will get his first shot to show he’s ready to start after backing up Arian Foster for the first four years of his career.

Tate’s familiarity with the zone-blocking scheme Kyle Shanahan will run should serve him well in the competition against West. With the early benefit of the doubt, Tate has to stay healthy and prove he can handle the starter’s workload he has waited for.

(Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports)

Lamar Miller, Dolphins

Knowshon Moreno’s threat to Miller’s standing in Miami was short-lived. The former Broncos back had the better 2013 season, but Miller appears to be set to have the superior output in 2014.

Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s arrival from Philadelphia has created a buzz around Miller. Lazor has discussed putting Miller in a role similar to the one LeSean McCoy occupied in Philadelphia last year. The third-year back from Miami doesn’t have McCoy’s elusiveness, but his combination of straight-ahead speed and newly acquired power (Miller added 6-8 pounds in the offseason without sacrificing speed, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin told the Miami Herald) make him a serious candidate for a breakout year.

(Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports)

Giovani Bernard, Bengals

Bernard established himself as a dynamic threat in his rookie year with a Bengals team already loaded with offensive options. Hue Jackson’s ascension to offensive coordinator all but assures a strong running game for Cincinnati in 2014. And he’ll have plenty of ways to utilize Bernard, who’s adept at working in open space.

(Via Deadspin)

The real threat to Bernard’s workload will be rookie Jeremy Hill. Jackson emphasizes the power run game, and Hill has the style to earn significant carries in his first year. But running backs coach Kyle Caskey told ESPN that Bernard could earn 260-300 total touches, even if that means an increased workload in the passing game.